O Magnum Mysterium (Syler)

James Syler

General Info

Year: 1996
Duration: c. 12:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Ballerbach Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental ($250.00) | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-VI
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani

Soprano Voice

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

O Magnum Mysterium (1996) is an ancient Christmas day text that describes the great mystery of God becoming man – even the animals behold him. In this setting I attempt to transcend time and space by juxtaposing the nativity scene with the crucifixion scene – Christ’s entrance and exit in this world. Now the “great mystery” is intensified as we see Christ, not as the sentimentalized baby in a manger, but as the God-man who will grow up and become the atoning sacrifice on the cross. As we approach the meaning and mystery of Christ in this way our intellect and spirit are forced to wrestle with the undeniable questions of “Who is Jesus?” and “What does He mean to me?” In creating this work it’s been my desire to catch a glimpse of the weight of this mystery.

Text:

O great mystery and wondrous
thing that the animals behold
the newborn Lord lying in a manger.
Crucify him! Crucify him!
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
O Blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
It is finished.
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.
Surely this man was the Son of God.
Alleluia.
Who do you say I am?

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. University of North Texas Wind Ensemble (Nicholas Enrico Williams, conductor)
Audio CD: University of North Texas Wind Ensemble (Nicholas Enrico Williams, conductor) - 2019

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Ensemble (Nicholas E. Williams, conductor; Carol Wilson, soprano) – 22 February 2018

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Blue-Bop (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Hard Times Come Again No More (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1854/2020)
Mam-Blu (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)
The Road Not Taken (Flex instrumentation) (1993/2020)
Scintilla (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)

All Wind Works

Blue-Bop (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
A Blue Streak (2010)
Cantique (2012)
Congo Square (2016)
Country Bandstand (2002)
Fantasia on Brother James' Air (2023)
Fantasia on "Silent Night" (2011)
Fields (1994)
Galop (as transcriber) (c. 1909/2013)
Gearbox (2009)
Hard Times Come Again No More (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1854/2020)
The Harmonious Blacksmith (as arranger) (1720/2020)
Hocus Pocus (2013)
The Hound of Heaven (1988)
Hymn for Emmanuel (2015)
Love Among the Ruins (2016)
Mam-Blu (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)
Minton's Playhouse (1994)
O Magnum Mysterium (1996)
The Road Not Taken (Flex instrumentation) (1993/2020)
Scintilla (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
Seasons (2022)
Silent Shadows to the Last (2017)
Sinfonietta (2012)
Storyville (1996)
Suite Argentine (2020)
Suite Louisiane (2018)
Symphony No. 1, “Blue” (1999)
Symphony No. 2 (2019)
Tattoo (2005)
The Temptation of St. Anthony (2014)
Wu Xing (2016)

Resources

" O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM For Soprano and Wind Ensemble by James Syler (USA, 1961)." WASBE. 30 May 2022. (Featured as WASBE’s Composition of the Week, date). Accessed 7 January 2023x